Bell 47G-4A accident near Alcoma, Florida, September 6, 2026
On September 6, 2026 at about 6:22 pm local time, a 1966 Bell 47G-4A (helicopter), registered N797WS, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Alcoma, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2026 · about 6:22 pm local time
- Place
- Alcoma, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47G-4A, built 1966 · all 47G-4As on the register
- Registration
- N797WS · registry record · serial 7509
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 5, 2026, at 1422 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47G-4A, N797WS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Alcoma, Florida. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that about 43 minutes after takeoff, he felt the helicopter momentarily yaw to the left twice. About 10 seconds later he heard a brief “metallic grinding noise,” which was followed by a loss of altitude, at which point the pilot performed a forced landing. The helicopter came to rest in trees resulting in substantial damage to the engine mounts, pitch change linkage, and tailboom. The helicopter was recovered and retained for further examination.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,124 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 23, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Plant City FL at 2:02 pm
- Destination: Lake Wales FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 am from BOW, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBOW 061435Z AUTO 31005KT 10SM FEW020 30/25 A2995 RMK AO2 PWINO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA331.